soap stars do Christmas!

From making memories to braving the sea for a dip, and eating all the delicious food, soap stars tell Julie Lordan how they will spend the festive season Maclean Burke (Damien Halpin, Fair City)

Christmas Day will start with a large family breakfast and present unwrapping, followed by a swim. It will be a busy day this year as myself and my ancée, Cat, will have all our kids for dinner, plus grandchildren.

I love Christmas. However, it can be extremely busy as, apart from Christmas Eve and Day, I am at out at the 3Olympia with Olly Polly and the Magic Lamp, and on St Stephen’s Day there are three shows, so early to bed on Christmas Day will be a must.

is year is myself and Cat’s rst year sharing Christmas in our new home, so we are just really excited to have both sets of our kids around and play some board games and create memories. Happy Christmas to all!

Niall Mac Eachmharcaigh (John Joe Daly, Ros na Rún)

I will be at home and I’m hoping Donegal will be covered in snow, as it looks even more beautiful than it does in summer.

On Christmas Day, I will be helping with the cooking of the small turkey as half of my family will be in the UAE. A er dinner, a long walk by the sea will be nice, with the roar of the Atlantic ringing in my ears.

ere’s lots happening in Ros na Rún so of course I’ll be glued to it. I’ll also be watching the traditional Christmas lms which I love: Home Alone, Indiana Jones and so on. We’ll de nitely be paying a visit to my local, Leo’s Tavern, the home of Clannad.

Rebecca Grimes (Hayley Collins, Fair City)

We’ll be splitting our time between my family and my partner, Paul’s, on Christmas Day. We always have a big family Christmas dinner − it’s usually mayhem, about 16 of us running around. is year my sister is hosting so I’m really planning on putting my feet up and relaxing − but don’t tell her that!

I think it’s lovely for everyone to get together, but I know it can be very lonely or stressful for some. I try to always remember how lucky I am to get to enjoy it with loved ones. We never miss the Fair City special − but I’m really looking forward to watching all the usual Christmas movies. We’ve made a list of all the ones I shockingly haven’t seen yet and we’re going to work through that in December − starting with Home Alone! Also, this Christmas Paul and I are getting married! My friend Nyree (Yergainharsian, who also stars in Fair City) and another friend, Mairead, are going to be the celebrants.

Hazel Ní Chúláin (Réailtín Seoighe, Ros na Rún)

It’s only in recent years we get to enjoy a lie-in in my house! Unfortunately, Santaí doesn’t visit us anymore. e day usually starts o with all ve of us gathering under the tree and exchanging gi s. Eventually we all go to Mass, before my brother forces us into a

Christmas dip. en later we have the rest of our family over and enjoy the dinner.

Although I am more of a

Hallowe’en fan, I really love

Christmas. Getting to spend time with my family, eating delicious food and of course the holidays are nice too.

My sister usually takes charge of the remote, so I can imagine there will be some mix of Christmas movies. But Ros na Rún is obviously the family favourite and will not be missed!

Tina O’brien (Sarah Barlow, Coronation Street)

I absolutely won’t be cooking as we’re going out for lunch. I get really overwhelmed when the fridge is full of food and the thought of all the cooking.

But it is very festive in our home. A big arti cial tree in the hallway, then a real one in the living room where all the kids’ decorations go on. I feel as I’m getting older, I’m getting a little bit more ‘bah humbug’ and when the music starts in September, it drives me mad. I think maybe because we lm Corrie Christmas in October, I’m a bit over it by the time the real thing comes.